Patton Oswalt might make his living as a brilliant comedian, but first and foremost, he’s a human being interacting with the larger world around him. Today, in response to the devastating Boston Marathon explosions, he took to his Facebook account and wrote the touching essay included above.

In the hours since he wrote it, his words have been passed around and shared by numerous people, as have the statements of other celebrities who have taken to their Twitters to react. In these times of need, leaders like President Obama, athletes like LeBron James and directors like Kevin Smith are more human than ever, and their responses, whether poignant or simplistic and emotional, feel honest and familiar.

Here’s a cross section of celebrities, and the public statements they’ve issued concerning today’s tragedy…